Automatic irrigation system and apparatus



Jan. 21, 1958 G: JENKINS. JR

AUTOMATIC `IRR1GATTI`QN SYSTEM AND APPARATUS med ixiy 12, 1954 n. JM wwwNK. mm m/v 6..,.\ mm WWA u WQ ATTORNEY'V United States Patent AUTOMATICIRRIGATION SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Isaac G, Jenkins, Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.

Application July 12, 1954, SerialNo. 442,488

l-Clam. (Gl. IS7-1625.42.)

This inventionpertains to improvements in anirrigation system andapparatus, and is particularly directed tosuch4 systemsandfapparatuswhich function automaticallyy to distribute water to aseries ofv land areasto be irrigated inv anautomatic sequential mannerwith a-high degree of accuracy of control and Supplyof water to eacharea to be treated.

One of the difficulties in connection with irrgating a series of areasin a sequential manner is the care and skill required to manuallycontrol the various valves so that there will not be adeiiciency in onelot and an excess in another nor will there be over-ooding and wasteofthe precious irrigation Water. Therefore, one of the primary objectsofthis invention is to provide an improvedautomatic control'systernandapparatus functioning independent of operators skill and care, tosequentially supply the exacting amount of water for each of therespective irrigated 'areas to be treated.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide an improved sequentiallycontrolled valve system adapted'to be pre-set for a predeterminedsequenceof water delivery toa series ofjground areas which willautomatically go through its `entire cycle without attention or careupon the part of an operator to properly distribute water in anysequence or to eliminate any desired areas during the operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improvedelectric control system and valve mechanism for a sequentiallyfunctioning irrigation system.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved electricand hydraulic control circuit for an irrigation system.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved 2-waytransfer valve for an improved irrigation system as recited above.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a speciallydesigned 2-way transfer valve for irrigation systems.

It is also an object of this invention to control a novel 2way transfervalve for irrigation system by means of precise electrical equipmentfunctioning in response to the depth of water in the respective areasbeing irrigated.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from `adetailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical section through an irrigation transfervalve incorporating the novel features of this invention indicated onthe line 1--1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

This application is a continuation in part application of my case,Serial No. 388,387, filed October 26, 1953.

A suitable reservoir or water supply is connected through a pipeline 11to the control valve 12. The valve 12 is preferably constructed as shownin Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4 and comprises a frame consisting of the sidemembers 13 and 14 which are bolted together with the end channel icemerrrbersV 15 and 1,6by suitableboltsl' The bottom is formed bythe:channel 1,-8, secured, to the side members 13 and 14 by suitable bolts19. A suitable cover p latc20 may be applied tothe topportionnf the sidemembers.Y 13 and 14 and the endchannel members,v 15l andV 16.

Aninput sleeve 21,is;cast integral with the side member 13 which ispreferably-rnade ofj'castcement, andreceives the input pipe11. An upperdischarge sleeve22 and a.,lower discharge sleeve 2,3,arecast integralwith the side-,member 14 in arrlanner-A similar totheinput sleeve 21.Suitable-dischargepipes524 and 25'are sluitablyconnected to therespective sleeves 22.l andA 23. The sleeve, 21 thus forms aninput portlflwwhile thesleeves 22 and 23 respectively `form dischargeports24atandv 25afin the chamber formed by the side members 13 and 14am-dmcend membersl'Srand 16.

Vertioally reciprocatable in the chamber form members 13-14 and 15-16 isthe valve gate member 27 comprising the main plate portion 28k whichslides in close proximity` against the inner surface29 ofthe member 14and has turned upside portions 30 and 31 formed integral therewith.Guide rollers 32y are journaled` on suitable studs 33 xed in the'turnedupside portions. 30 and31 havediameters justslightly -less than thedistance ,between the innerface 29.iof-thezmember 14v and the innerface34 of the side member` 13. The side members 39 nicely slide against theinside =faces36;of the end channel members 15 and 16- to Aprovidelateral guiding for the gate 27. A suitable abutment plate 37 resting ontop vof4 a suitable cushion materialy such as sponge rubber 38 providesa soft engagement during the downward travel of the gate 27.

The gate is raised andcontrolled in its lowering movement by the framecomprising the upwardly extending side members39 rigidly securedto thesi-de portions 30 and 31 ofthe gate 27 adjacent the main plate portion28 thereof. The upper ends of the upwardly extending side members 39 areintegrally connectedtogether by the trip bar 40`which has a bevelledunderside 41 adapted to be engaged by the trip roller 42 carried on thetrip lever 43 pivotally mounted on a pin 44 in the trip actuatinghousing side plates 45. A tension spring 46 connected pivotally at 47and to the lug 48 formed integral with the bottom 49 of the tripactuating mechanism box 50 serves to normally swing the roller 42against the surface 29 of the member 14 under the bevelled abutmentsurface 41 of the member 40 when the gate is in raised position.

The trip lever 43 may be swung out from underneath the bevelled abutmentsurface 41 by means of a suitable solenoid 51 secured to the bottom 49of the trip actuating mechanism box 50 and having its armature 52connected by a chain 53 passing over an idler pulley 54 journaled on apin 55 secured in the side plates 45 of the box 50 and connected at S6to the lever arm 43. The abutment surface 41 on the member 40 isarranged tangent to an arc of swinging movement about the axis of thepin 44 upon which the trip lever 43 is mounted so that no movement inthe gate will be affected during the actuation of the lever by thesolenoid S1 for easy and quick tripout of the roller 42 to allow thegate to drop from its upper position 27a to its lowered position 27b.When in raised or upper position 27a the gate 27 is so positioned thatwater is then in communication from the supply line 11 to the outputline 25 and when in lowered position as shown in Fig. 1 the water willllow along the line indicated by the arrows 57 from the supply line 11to the discharge line 24.

It is preferable to provide a baille to prevent upward splashing of thewater which would ordinarily stand at a level 58 in the valve structure,when the gate is instantly dropped by means of energizing the solenoid51 as described. This bafe construction may comprise a pair of anglemembers 59 secured by suitable bolts 60 to the end channel members 15and 16. A bale plate member 62 is secured by suitable fastening means 63to the angle members 59 and has an inwardly extending portion 64 nicelyfitting between the members 39 to form a bate to prevent the water fromgetting up into the trip control box 50.

The valve 12 thus constructed is arranged with its gate in raisedposition and latchedY in by the roller 42 as described so that watersupply from the line 11 passes through the valve 12 into the line 25which in turn is connected to the area to be supplied.

Thus, with the automatic system here devised utilizing the trip-operatedvalve structure described above, it is possible to automatically orremotely irrigate any group of areas. It is to be further noted that ahighly eflicient electrically controllable valve may be utilized in aplurality of locations in the irrigation system to eiciency andautomatically control the ow. Since there is usually an interval of someten days or two weeks between irrigation periods it is easy for therespective property owners or an irrigation attendant to reset the valvefor the lots wanting water to begin another irrigation sequence.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes apreferred lform of the invention, it is also to be understood that theapparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from thespirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement andcornmercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appen'dent claimis intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimedand desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

In an automatic irrigation system, a trip gate valve comprising, a pairof spaced side members, a pair of spaced end members secured to saidside members, a bottom secured to said side and end members, an inputsupply line including an input port located intermediate the top andbottom of one of said side members, a pair of discharge lines verticallypositioned one above the other including discharge ports in the other ofsaid side members equally vertically spaced one above and one below theaxis of said input port, a valve gate having a plate portion verticallysliding adjacent the inner surface of said other side members toalternately close one or the other of said discharge ports, turned upside portions formed on the edges of said plate portions extending atright angles thereto and slidingly engaging the inner faces of said endmembers, rollers journaled on horizontal axes on said turned up portionshaving diameters slightly less than the spacing between the innersurfaces of said side members and adapted to roll against said innersurfaces of said side members each sideV of said ports upon the verticalmovement of said gate, a horizontal trip bar iixed to the upper end ofsaid gate having a downwardly facing trip abutment surface, a trip levermounted on one of said side lframe members including a trip rollerengaging said trip abutment surface, and means for yieldingly holdingsaid lever in a position of engagement of said roller with said tripabutment surface, said lever being actuable to withdraw said roller fromunder said trip abutment surface to allow said gate to drop from aposition of closure of said upper discharge port to a position ofclosure of said lower discharge port, said trip bar serving as themanual lifting handle to raise said gate to relatched position behindsaid trip lever roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS240,564 Ware Apr. 26, 1881 825,064 Levey July 3, 1906 1,578,429 GrindleMar. 30, 1926 1,607,343 Davenport Nov. 16, 1926 1,786,878 Van KeurenDec. 30, 1930 1,825,815 Nye Oct. 6, 1931 1,868,147 Kruse July 19, 19321,963,684 Shimer June 19, 1934 2,055,512 Wallace Sept. 29, 19362,141,847 Tennant Dec. 27, 1938 2,265,176 Kinzie Dec. 9, 1941 2,505,413Lee Apr. 25, 1950

